Sparoair
Function | Sounding rocket |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Naval Missile Center |
Country of origin | United States |
Size | |
Height | 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in) |
Diameter | 200 mm (8 in) |
Mass | 143 kg (315 lb) |
Stages | Two |
Capacity | |
Payload to 120 km (65 nmi) | |
Mass | 18 kg (40 lb) |
Launch history | |
Status | Retired |
Launch sites | Point Mugu |
First flight | 1960 |
Last flight | 8 July 1965 |
Sparoair was a family of air-launched sounding rockets developed by the United States Navy in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Based on the Sparrow air-to-air missile, three versions of the rocket were developed; although some launches were successful, the system did not enter operational service.
Sparoair I and II
Sparoair was developed by the
The Sparoair I was the original version of the rocket, launched using an ejection system and a lanyard for firing; after that proved unreliable in flight testing, the Sparoair II was developed that utilised a rail launch with ignition prior to release from the aircraft.[1] Eight launches of Sparoair II vehicles had been conducted by 1961.[1] Each Sparoair II rocket cost US$6,000.[2]
Sparoair III
Sparoair III utilised a redesigned second-stage motor, and could be launched from the F-4 Phantom II; however, any aircraft capable of launching the Sparrow III AAM could launch the Sparoair.[1]
The Sparoair III utilised the aircraft's
The first Sparoair III was launched on 8 July 1965; it proved a partial failure as the second stage failed to ignite. The second launch on 26 May 1966 failed after six seconds of second-stage burn when the vehicle exploded.[1] No further launches were undertaken.[5]
References
- ^ doi:10.2514/3.29679. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ a b c Pfeiffer, Marie (September 1962). "Rockets Probe Mysteries of Upper Air" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Washington, D.C.: Navy Department: 19. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-87703-444-5.
- ^ "Missiles and Rockets , Volume 21, Part 1". American Aviation Publications. 1967. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ Wade, Mark (ed.). "Sparoair". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2011.